A Review of the Role Playing Game Supplement Bats

Bats by Rob Barnes is a role playing game supplement published by Columbia Games, Inc. for use with HârnMaster. This is a short Bestiary article.

The supplement is available as a 2-page PDF from DriveThruRPG for $1.48 but was purchased at a reduced price thanks to a special discount.

The first page of content has an extensive description of bats, which are known as “flitter mice” in some parts of Hârn. This section gives their physical description, diet, activity times, senses and their association with various deities, witchcraft, darkness and evil. Also on this page are the Credits box and their HârnMaster stats.

The second page is Rabies: The Wreaker’s Madness. This describes rabies, what percentage of bats carry it and what the effects are on the bats themselves and on those who contract it, along with potential cures; potions can help in the early days but once symptoms appear, divine or magical aid is required. The effects of rabies have resulted in it being considered to be the work of Morgath, the Wreaker of Chaos. A sidebar gives the HârnMaster effects of rabies. Saint Kuvan’s Key is a tool named after Saint Kuvan, who designed it after using a key, on the word of the goddess Peoni, to cure himself of rabies.

Bats in Review

The PDF lacks bookmarks and, with only two pages of content, doesn’t need them. Navigation is fine. The text maintains a single column with sidebar format and appeared to be free of errors. There are two illustrations; one showing bats around a building, the other Saint Kuvan’s key. Presentation is decent.

This supplement is what it sets out to be; a simple bestiary article covering one creature. Bats are not a huge threat individually, but the rabies they may carry is significantly more dangerous. Quite a lot of the material, the majority of the content not in a sidebar, is suitable for any system, making this a detailed work on bats and rabies. Bats can be found by clicking here.